Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
THE opening of the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School at Midlands State University’s Kwekwe Campus has triggered a wave of economic activity in the city, with construction, tourism, retail and transport businesses all benefiting from the new influx of students and staff.
The law school, which recently opened its doors to law students transferred from the university’s main campus in Gweru, has created fresh demand for accommodation, retail outlets, food services and transport.
With an enrolment of about 600 students currently and numbers set to increase, the influx of students, lecturers, university staff and visitors has provided a new market for local entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, property developers and investors are responding by constructing residential and commercial structures.
Speaking during a recent media tour organised by the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, MSU Kwekwe Campus Director Dr Gilbert Tarugarira said the institution was more than just another tertiary facility.
“The institution is more than just another tertiary education facility, it is a catalyst for broader economic growth and urban development,” Dr Tarugarira stated.
“When we were constructing this structure, we did not rely on imported labour but employed individuals from the surrounding communities and that remains the case to this day. The entire complexion of Kwekwe has changed. It is no longer the Kwekwe we used to know. It is now a new Kwekwe, with many structures emerging, spaces being developed and businesses set to flourish just as during last year’s graduation ceremony, when businesses recorded brisk trade and lodges were fully booked.”
Dr Tarugarira said the institution has brought business opportunities and those with ideas and innovation are taking advantage of what the university has contributed.
He also reiterated that the campus has indirectly benefited estate development companies as Kwekwe expands, with land values appreciating.
“A lot of construction is taking place around this area. New houses, shopping centres, and lodges are taking shape as entrepreneurs seize the opportunity created by our presence,” said Dr Tarugarira.
He added that the planned Faculty of Agriculture was expected to undertake research addressing challenges faced by surrounding communities.
“The Agro Division is currently experimenting with mushroom cultivation and MSU has a cannabis project here. These ventures are aimed at exploring how the surrounding communities can also benefit,” he explained.
The Faculty of Agriculture will also investigate the decline of cotton production in areas such as Gokwe.
“These are issues we believe, as a university, we can help revive. Furthermore, within the agriculture sector, we aim to develop seed varieties suitable for the Midlands, so that local farmers can benefit directly from the university’s research,” he said.
The university is also operating a piggery project that benefits local communities.
Government has allocated more than Z$263 million towards construction, with MSU acting as the contractor.
“The structure is nearly complete. Although it is now habitable, we are still addressing some minor issues,” Dr Tarugarira noted.
The self-contained, double-storey campus, situated on a 220-hectare site along the Old Gokwe Road, will feature lecture theatres, moot courts, a library, hostels, a kitchen, a hospital and staff quarters. It has the capacity to accommodate 600 students and will also house the Faculties of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Built Environment.
The Faculty of Built Environment, Art and Design is currently operating temporarily from the Law Block and is expected to move into its dedicated facility once construction is completed in three months.
With the MSU 2026 graduation ceremony scheduled for 28 August at the Kwekwe campus, the university is constructing a five-kilometre shorter route from town, which is expected to be completed by 24 August.
The MSU Faculty of Law relocated from Gweru to Kwekwe in a significant boost for the sector. All law lectures, tutorials, and administrative activities have now moved to the new campus, as the 2026 academic semester resumes.
MSU currently enrols 120 undergraduate law students per year and offers two master’s programmes with 30 students annually. The university also plans to introduce postgraduate diplomas and short courses. Additionally, a programme supporting students unable to pay fees currently benefits 10 law students.
The idea to establish the law school was first proposed in 2015 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the late national hero Professor Ngwabi Bhebhe and others. However, the project took several years to materialise due to funding challenges.
The campus, named after President Mnangagwa, was officially commissioned last year in a historic ceremony, the first time the university held a graduation outside its main campus in Gweru.
Recently, a delegation from the University of Zambia Law School Class of 1975 toured the facility, describing it as a milestone in strengthening legal education and fostering regional academic integration.
The delegation also presented a publication titled “Conversations with The Law School Class of 1975,” which chronicles the experiences of classmates who studied alongside President Mnangagwa.
The Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School is part of the Government’s initiative to modernise higher education through the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model, which prioritises research, innovation and industrialisation.
The institution is expected to play a vital role in achieving Vision 2030 by equipping students with advanced knowledge and skills to drive national development.
